Ways to Boost your Immune System

Your immune system is your body’s first line of defence when it comes to viruses and bacteria which can leave you feeling rundown and generally unwell. If you imagine your immune system as a fence that keeps all of these bacteria and viruses at bay it is worth considering the analogy that if the fence rots or is blown down all of these bacteria and viruses can charge through and over take your body leaving you at the mercy of a variety of different ailments.

So what can be done to ensure your immune system stays in tip top condition? Well for sufferers of Fibromyalgia and M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) it is important to ensure that supplements, vitamins and other remedies are used as being able to move and be involved in exercise is often out of the question.

Boosting Your Immunity

To ensure your immunity stays at a premium it is important you look at your daily diet. There is a common misconception that diet and the immune system are not linked but they are and this is because of the wealth of vitamins and nutrients the body takes from the food we eat. Here are a list of things that you should reduce to help increase your immunity :

Coffee
Tea
Alcohol
Fatty Foods
Foods high in starch content
Soft drinks (Carbonated fizzy drinks)
Nicotine

Instantly of course many people will say they will struggle to reduce or cut out some or all of the items of the aforementioned list so it is wise to consult with your doctor before attempting to reduce or cut out anything from your diet. He or she will help your produce a diet that is right for you and will also help you with ways in which to cut out addictive items such as alcohol or nicotine.

Vitamins

Vitamins are another rich source to use in order to boost your immune system. Most vitamins can be found in the food that we eat – providing of course that we eat healthily. For those vitamins which your body is missing out on (and your doctor can give you a rough idea as to what they are) you can replace them with over the counter supplements which come in the form of capsules, drinks, powders or healthy option foods.

Exercise

Although we have already touched upon the fact that not everyone with either Fibromyalgia or M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) can exercise there are some light exercises you can do to help keep the blood circulating and help keep your immune system in some semblance of functionality. These exercises can be done from the comfort of your armchair or bed (if you are unable to get around) and include raising your legs and arms, moving your head from side to side and also stretching and arching your back.

Although for many sufferers these exercises may seem like mammoth tasks your doctor in conjunction with a Physiotherapist (if your condition is chronic) can help you plan an exercise regime.

Stress and Sleep

We have categorised stress and sleep together because for sufferers of both Fibromyalgia and M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) they can both go hand in hand. Being unable to sleep can be a result of stress which is caused by the condition and the fact it can leave the sufferer unable to function as they did before.

Reduce your stress levels where possible (your doctor may help with this problem providing mild anti-depressants for a period if he or she feels it is necessary) and try to get as much sleep as you can. Sufferers of both conditions often find sleep difficult but you should take it when it comes around even if it is through the day. Sleep can not only invigorate the body and mind but also the immune system.

Further Advice

If your feel you are susceptible to colds, flues and other viruses then you should consult your doctor. He or she may decide that a vaccination for flu is a wise move but they will also help you plan other methods of dealing with a flagging immune system. Likewise you should never embark on any kind of alternative therapy without consulting your doctor before hand.